Monday, 16 March 2009

Blood sugar after exercise ............reply to reader's comment.

Adnan's second question was about blood sugar after exercise. Some people say that their blood sugar rises immediately after exercise. And then there are others who claim that their glucose level actually drops after exercise.

In my own case, I have experienced both. Let me explain.

When I go for a walk for 30 minutes - the brisk, arm moving, spring in the step kind of walk - and come back and check my blood sugar, it invariably is in the 90s. I have not tested the effect of shorter walks because in my opinion, those walks do not provide much exercise.

After a vigorous 30 minute treadmill workout, my blood sugar tends to also be in the 90s. And then it may slip back to the high 80s.

The only time I have seen an increase is after lifting weights. There is definitely something about a workout involving muscle action that stresses specific muscles to the point of no return. Meaning I just could not do one more rep if my life depended on it. Which is how muscle building exercises tend to be....they work you to exhaustion. The glucose meter definitely shows an increase after such a workout for me. But not by much and not for long. Maybe in the low 100s and then within half an hour, it comes back to the 80-90 mark.

I am sure everyone sees a glucose response to exercise that is unique unto themselves.

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